Portable typewriter with case

ABSTRACT

A portable typewriter and case assembly in which the typewriter is insertable into the case through an open end thereof. A panel for closing the open end of the case is affixed to the back of the typewriter. Flexible connecting means are secured to the case and are engageable with the panel for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case.

United States Patent 1 Sottsass, Jr.

[451 Jan. 16, 1973v 22 Filed:

154] PORTABLE TYPEWRITER WITH CASE [75] Inventor: Ettore Sottsass, Jr.,Milan, Italy [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C. S.p.A., lvrea,

ltaly Feb. 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 10,446

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data- May 3, 1969 Italy ..51694 A/6952 US. Cl ..312/208, 312/244 51 Int. Cl; ..A47b 21/00, A47b 89/00 [58]Field of Search ..312/208, 244, 320; 353/119; 73/431; 206/1, 16; 250/524[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,493,636 1/1950 Mills..353/119 X 3,339,781 9/1967- Schurman et al ..206/1 X 3,348,892 10/1967Grassi ..312/208 Goldbeck et al. ..206/16 X 2,855,257 10/1958 Barker etal. ..312/244 X 2,958,304 11/1960 .....3l2/244 X 3,467,891 9/1969 12/320X 2,510,681 6/1950 Campbell ..312/29 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS268,526 3/1932 Great Britain ..312/208 Primary Examiner-Paul R. GilliamAtt0rneyBirch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [57] ABSTRACT A portabletypewriter and case assembly in which the typewriter is insertable intothe case through an open end thereof. A panel for closing the open endof the case is affixed to the back of the typewriter. Flexibleconnecting means are secured to the case and are engageable with thepanel'for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriteris inserted into the case.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 16 1973 3.71 J 175 INVENTOR. IET TORE SOT TSASS PORTABLE TYPEWRITER WITH CASE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION relates to a portable machine. In this latter assembly, acarrying handle is fixed to one of the lateral sides of the base, as aresult of which the handle is in the way while the machine is beingused. Moreover, since the handle is fixed to one of the lateral sides ofthe base, the mechanisms of the typewriter are subject to lateralstresses during carriage. Finally, this assembly has the disadvantagethat the base is liable to become damaged by being struck while themachine is being carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide a portable typewriter and case assembly in which the caseprotects the typewriter as much as possible while it is being carriedand does not subject the mechanisms of the typewriter to lateralstresses.

Basically described, the assembly of the invention comprises a casehaving one end thereof open; a typewriter insertable into the casethrough said open end;.a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter forclosing said open end; a carrying handle connected to the panel; andconnecting means associated with the case for removably securing thepanel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG..1 is a rear perspective view fromthe left of the typewriter and case of the assembly of the invention,with part of the case being removed to show the interior thereof; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the typewriter inserted into the caseand ready for carrying.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, referencenumeral 5 indicates generally a portable typewriter machine, andreference numeral 6 indicates generally a case of rigid plastic materialwithin which machine 5 may be inserted. Machine 5 includes a keyboardindicated generally by reference numeral 25 at the front thereof and apaper platen 26 at the back thereof. Case 6 is of substantiallyrectangular parallelepipedal form and is tapered slightly inwardlytoward the bottom thereof. The two sides of case 6 having the smallestarea are the top and bottom thereof, and the two sides having thelargest area are side walls 11. The case is open at the top thereof andis adapted to receive the machine,

keyboard or front first, through such top. The rim of case 6 is formedby a projecting ridge 7 against which a closure panel 8 fixed to theback of machine 5 is adapted to rest. Fixed to the panel 8 is aprojection 9 in which there is hinged a handle 10 for carrying themachine. 1

Projection 9 is disposed slightly below the middle of panel 8 in such amanner that handle 10 is hingedly connected to the panel in a planewhich is substantially parallel to side walls 1 l, i.e. substantiallyparallel to the bottom of machine 5, and passes through the center ofgravity of the machine, so that during carriage the case hangsvertically downwardly from the handle. Panel 8 is provided at theperimeter thereof with a rim 18 projecting to the rear of machine 5,i.e. outwardly from the outer surface of the panel, and substantially atthe same height as projection 9. Handle 10 is ofa size such that it canrest against panel 8 within rim 18 when it is pivoted toward the top ofthe machine, so that in spite of the relatively small height of themachine the handle can be made large enough to be gripped comfortably. v

The case includes connecting means for removably securing the closurepanel and machine thereto. The connecting means are constitutedessentially by two flexible tongues 12 secured to two opposite sidewalls 13 of the case in registration with two depressions 14 formed inthe case. The depressions are framed by U- shaped ridges 15 integrallyconnected to ridge 7. Tongues 12 are composed of an elastic material,such as rubber, and each includes a T-shaped portion 16. Portions 16 areengageable with two notches 17 formed in rim 18; the bar of eachT-shaped portion being wider than the associated notch 17 and thethickness of each portion being no greater than the height of rim'l8.Each tongue 12 terminates in a freely extending portion 19 forming afinger-tab adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue.

Two pairs of rubber pegs 20 are fixed to the bottom of case 6, onlyonesuch p'air being visible in FIG. 1. Each pair of pegs 20 is integralwith a. base 21 and is adapted to engage therebetween a front bar 22 ofmachine 5 for holding the machine in the proper position within thecase. The bar 22 is fixed to the frameof the machine by means of twolongitudinal bars 23.

Finally, at the bottom of the case there are fixed two placed upright,as in FIG. 2, and is held with one hand by means of one of tongues 12.The handle 10 is then gripped with the other hand and the machine ispicked up, thereby automatically moving the machine to a verticalposition. The machine is now inserted into the case until the rim l8mates with the ridge 7, as in FIG. 2. By then gripping the two tabportions 19, the tongues 12 are pulled and bent over until T-shapedportions 16 are engaged with notches 17. In order to engage por tions 16with notches l7, tongues 12 must be placed under tension,therebyinsuring that panel 8 will remain firmly secured to case 6.

To remove machine 5 from case 6, portions 16 are the case. The machinemay then be lifted from the case.

Since case 6 is made of a rigid plastic material, it can be used as asupport for the machine during use, while the paper can be placed insidethe case.

It is understood that various modifications, improvements, or additionsmay be made in the assembly hereinbefore described without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the inventionis to be limited solely by the scope of appended claims.

l claim:

I. A portable typewriter and case assembly comprismg:

a substantially parallepi'ped shaped case, the sides of said case havingthe smallest area being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open;

a typewriter, including a keyboard at the front thereof and a paperplaten at the rear thereof, said typewriter being insertable front firstinto the case through said open top;

a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top;

a carrying handle connected to the panel and being disposed when in usein a plane extending generally parallel to the bottom of the typewriterand through the center of gravity thereof; and

connecting means associated with the case for removably securing thepanel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case, saidconnecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectivelysecured to two opposite side walls of said base adjacent said open top.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the panel includes aperimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof;and'wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the panel and when notin use is arranged to rest against the outer surface of the panel withinsaid rim when pivoted toward the top of the typewriter. v I 1 3. Anassembly as recited in claim 1; wherein said handle is pivotallyconnected to the panel; and wherein said two opposite side walls aredisposed perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said handle when thetypewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein the panel includes aperimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof,said rim having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectivelyvpositioned adjacentsaid two opposite side walls when the typewriter isinserted into the case; and wherein said connecting element s comprisetwo flexible tongues respectively engageable with said notches, each ofsaid tongues including a T-shapedportion engageable with the associated.notch' and a freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a userfor manipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elasticmaterial and under tension when engaged with said notches.

4. As assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the typewriter includes abar mounted on the front thereof;

and wherein the case includes at least two oppositely disposed ribsmounted interiorly thereof for guiding the typewriter into the properposition therein and at least n 3 substantially parallepiped shapedcase, the sides of said case having the smallest area being the top andbottom thereof, said top being open;

typewriter including a keyboard at the front thereof, a paper platen atthe rear thereof and a bar mounted on the front thereof, said typewriterbeing insertable front first into the case through said open top, saidcase including at least two oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorlythereof for guiding the typewriter into the proper position therein andat least one pair of pegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageablewith said bar for locking the typewriter in the proper position therein;g

a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top,said panel including a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from theouter surface thereof and having twooppositely disposed notches thereinrespectively positioned adjacent two opposite side walls of said casewhen the typewriter is inserted into the case;

a carrying handle connected to the panel and being disposed when in usein a plane extending generally parallel to the bottom of the typewriterand through the center of gravity thereof; and

connecting means associated with the case for removably securing thepanel to the case when the typewriter is insertedinto the case, saidconnecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectivelysecured to said two opposite side walls adjacent said open top; saidconnecting elements comprising two flexible tongues respectivelyengageable with said'notche's, each of said tongues including a T-shapedportion engageable with the associated notch and a'freely extendingportion adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue,said tongues beingcomposed of an elastic material and under tension whenengaged with said notches. i

' A i a: I

1. A portable typewriter and case assembly comprising: a substantiallyparallepiped shaped case, the sides of said case having the smallestarea being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open; atypewriter, including a keyboard at the front thereof and a paper platenat the rear thereof, said typewriter being insertable front first intothe case through said open top; a panel affixed to the back of thetypewriter for closing said open top; a carrying handle connected to thepanel and being disposed when in use in a plane extending generallyparallel to the bottom of the typewriter and through the center ofgravity thereof; and connecting means associated with the case forremovably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is insertedinto the case, said connecting means including a pair of connectingelements respectively secured to two opposite side walls of said caseadjacent said open top.
 2. An assembly as recited in claim 1; whereinthe panel includes a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from theouter surface thereof; and wherein the handle is pivotally connected tothe panel and when not in use is arranged to rest against the outersurface of the panel within said rim when pivoted toward the top of thetypewriter.
 3. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein said handle ispivotally connected to the panel; and wherein said two opposite sidewalls are disposed perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said handle whenthe typewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein the panel includesa perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof,said rim having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectivelypositioned adjacent said two opposite side walls when the typewriter isinserted into the case; and wherein said connecting elements comprisetwo flexible tongues respectively engageable with said notches, each ofsaid tongues including a T-shaped portion engageable with the associatednotch and a freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user formanipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elasticmaterial and under tension when engaged with said notches.
 4. Asassembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the typewriter includes a barmounted on the front thereof; and wherein the case includes at least twooppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding thetypewriter into the proper position therein and at least one pair ofpegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageable with said bar forlocking the typewriter in the proper position therein.
 5. A portabletypewriter and case assembly comprising: a substantially parallepipedshaped case, the sides of said case having the smallest area being thetop and bottom thereof, said top being open; a typewriter including akeyboard at the front thereof, a paper platen at the rear thereof and abar mounted on the front thereof, said typewriter being insertable frontfirst into the case through said open top, said case including at leasttwo oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding thetypewriter into the proper position therein and at least one pair ofpegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageable with said bar forlocking the typewriter in the proper position therein; a panel affixedto the back of the typewriter for closing said open top, said panelincluding a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surfacethereof and having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectivelypositioned adjacent two opposite side walls of said case when thetypewriter is inserted into the case; a carrying handle connected to thepanel and being disposed when in use in a plane extending generallyparallel to the bottom of the typewriter and through the center ofgravity thereof; and connecting means associated with the case forremovably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is insertedinto the case, said connecting means including a pair of connectingelements respectively secured to said two opposite side Walls adjacentsaid open top, said connecting elements comprising two flexible tonguesrespectively engageable with said notches, each of said tonguesincluding a T-shaped portion engageable with the associated notch and afreely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user formanipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elasticmaterial and under tension when engaged with said notches.